Bates Comments on Rachaad White, Bucs Run Game vs. Falcons Defense

Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III spoke about what he’s expecting from the Buccaneers’ offense in Week 14.

“I think No. 1 has gotten going a little bit more,” Bates said. “A lot of their runs I think when we first played them came out dot, came out of under center kind of quarterback. They’re doing a lot more gun type of runs.”

In their initial outing, White ran 13 times for 34 yards. Since then, he’s seen 20 carries in three separate games (all season-highs) and hit the century mark in a game with just 15 rushes. In all, he has 176 attempts for 643 yards and five scores on the ground this season.

In turn, Tampa has been more effective in the run game. During the first seven weeks of the season, the Bucs ranked 30th in expected points added per rush. In the weeks since, they rank 14th – and better than teams like the Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles.

“Like I said, they’re getting No. 1 the ball a little more which helps getting Mike the ball; mixing it up when they’re in the gun, whether they’re running the ball or trying to get the ball to 13 or 14 [receiver Chris Godwin].”

Stopping Evans will be Atlanta’s top priority. He has locked in another 1,000-yard season and remains their best big-play threat. Shutting down White, like they did last time, could certainly help that cause. A poor showing from the running back could render Tampa Bay one-dimensional and allow the Falcons to allocate more resources to the passing game,

Banking on a bad day from Evans isn’t a strong strategy, but Atlanta can count on Bates making splash plays on the defensive side of the ball. He’s turned in an All-Pro-worthy season and been a catalyst for an offense that has seen brighter days. Expect him to show up against both the run and pass on Sunday, especially if the Falcons come away with a victory.